Download Clock with selected audio messages

US 20070211575A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0211575 A1
(43) Pub. Date:
Rosen
(54)
CLOCK WITH SELECTED AUDIO
MESSAGES
(76) Inventor: Lauren Rosen, Farmington Hills, MI
(Us)
Correspondence Address:
Thomas M. Freiburger
PO. Box 1026
Tiburon, CA 94920 (US)
(21) Appl. No.:
(22)
Filed:
11/373,469
Mar. 10, 2006
Publication Classi?cation
(51)
Int. Cl.
G04B
(52)
47/00
(2006.01)
US. Cl. ............................... .. 368/10; 368/12; 368/73
(57)
Sep. 13, 2007
ABSTRACT
A clock, preferably a clock radio, has a solid state memory
or other storage medium such as a CD player, containing
many messages, each of Which preferably is appropriate to
a particular date, time of day, Week, season, etc. The clock
is self-contained, Without connection to any network for
source of message content. The clock or clock radio is
settable for a Wake up or other type of alarm function (such
as appointment alert) by the user, and the user can choose
that a message be selected by the internal microprocessor at
the appointed time. In one form the messages are horo
scopes, and the clock includes a means for the user’s
inputting of this speci?c user information. A speci?c
embodiment is a clock radio Which can be set for alarm,
radio programming and/ or day-speci?c message. The stored
messages are presented in Verbal form for the user, Via
digital storage or Voice synthesizer. In other forms the clock
or clock radio contains messages relating to similar dates in
history, anonymous-type programs, or other messages that
have appropriate content for a particular time or date.
7. O
we
Patent Application Publication Sep. 13, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 3
US 2007/0211575 A1
Sep. 13,2007
US 2007/0211575 A1
CLOCK WITH SELECTED AUDIO MESSAGES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001]
This invention concerns clocks that present mes
sages, and in speci?c forms of the invention, clocks, espe
cially clock radios, that present verbal messages to Wake up
a person With a daily horoscope speci?c to the person and
date, or With a message regarding an important event in
history that occurred on the same date.
[0002] A previous patent of the inventor herein, US. Pat.
No. 6,222,796, described an astrological Wristwatch that
stored horoscopes for up to one year and Which Would
receive inputs of the user’s birth date and time. A computer
chip in the Watch Would select an appropriate horoscope that
correlates to the current date and the user’s time and date of
birth, causing it to be shoWn on a liquid crystal display. This
Written display Was called up When desired by the user’s
[0009]
The device of the invention preferably is in the
form of a clock radio, capable of being set to present a
selected audio message for presentation at a Wake up time,
the message to be appropriate for the time, day or date for
Which the clock radio is set. The stored messages can be
horoscopes, preferably With one horoscope for each of the
tWelve different Zodiac signs for each day of the year, i.e.
12><365=4380 messages for one year. The clock or clock
radio preferably includes a data input for the user’s input of
data relating to date of birth, for the purpose of selecting
horoscopes.
[0010] In another form the device stores the multiplicity of
messages relating to historical events, to verbally report an
event from “this day in history”. With this type of messages
the storage medium is appropriate for many years, as
opposed to the horoscope, Which Will change year by year.
The stored medium can include several different series of
messages, With several different categories of historical
pressing a button on the Watch.
events, and the clock device can include a user selection for
[0003] The computer chip of the above described device,
Which category of message is to be delivered at the
appointed time. Different types of historical events can
contained in the Watch but replaceable, Was speci?c to only
include neWs events, science events, political events, sports
one sign of the Zodiac. On the display case of the Watch Was
a Zodiac month sign appropriate to the user.
events, or others speci?c to any of many different selected
activities.
[0004]
[0011] In one preferred embodiment the clock or clock
radio has a CD and CD player, With the CD storing all
messages, as digitally stored voice messages. The messages
In addition, the folloWing patents have some rel
evance to the subject matter of the invention: US. Pat. Nos.
1,750,505, 4,583,864, 4,659,231, 4,711,583, 4,712,923,
4,759,002, 4,766,579, 5,023,849, 5,208,700, 6,580,663,
6,791,904, and published Application No. 2005/001,3198.
[0005] The Herron ’904 patent listed above describes a
netWork, Which includes the Internet and a number of
can be stored in both male and female voices, and even in
a child’s voice, so that the user has a choice.
[0012]
In another embodiment the invention includes a
solid state memory and reader, the memory being generally
servers, connecting ultimately through sWitching devices to
the type used in digital cameras or the type used as a “?ash
a series of clock radio devices Which have tWo-Way com
munication With audio content servers. The user is enabled
memory” for computers, etc. This type of memory can either
store voice messages or simply contain text data represent
to select information to be presented via the clock radio, and
the patent states this information could be entertainment,
jokes, horoscope, etc.
[0006]
The present invention avoids the elaborate interac
tive netWork described in the Herron patent and provides a
ing the Words, to be coupled With a voice synthesiZer in the
device. This generally results in more of a “machine” type
of verbal message, but it does enable considerably more
dense storage of messages and enables the use of solid state
memory.
self-contained apparatus capable of presenting messages
[0013]
verbally and in a cost-ef?cient manner.
years to be capable of storing multiple gigabytes of data, and
Solid state memories have been advanced in recent
their density is expected to increase even further. Depending
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
on cost, these memory devices are expected to the best
present to a user a message, preferably a time-appropriate
means of storing the multiplicity of messages in the clock
device of the invention. Programmable memory devices can
be re-programmed With neW sets of messages for different
years When needed, as for horoscopes. Although the user
message, Which can be presented each day at an alarm set
time. The device includes a clock With a clock body and a
year, and change the memory in the clock device, as by
[0007]
The present invention is a clock, in a preferred
form a clock radio, With self-contained audio features to
could purchase a neW memory card or ?ash memory for each
time display, and With a microprocessor and a digital storage
opening a door or slot to remove the old memory device and
medium, storing a multiplicity of messages, each preferably
being appropriate for a particular time period, day or time of
day. An audible output in the clock body delivers verbal
messages, the output being connected to the microprocessor
insert the neW one, the memory can also be updated by using
so as to verbally announce audio messages selected from the
multiplicity of messages When so directed by the micropro
cessor. The microprocessor selects one of the multiplicity of
messages for audio presentation to the user preferably based
on time of day, day of Week or date.
a computer and online connection. As a neW year approaches
for messages such as horoscopes, the user could go to a
speci?c Website With the memory device connected to the
computer, and doWnload (for a fee) neW data appropriate for
the coming year. The re-programmed memory device Would
then be re-installed in the clock device.
and displaying device, including Wall clocks, table clocks,
[0014] Again With such an Internet connection, more than
simply generic horoscopes can be presented. The user may
elect to purchase and doWnload the horoscopes for one
particular horoscope sign (such as Gemini), for one year or
Watches, automobile clocks, alarm clocks, clock radios, etc.
for several years of generic horoscopes, thus only containing
[0008]
The term clock refers to any type of time keeping
Sep. 13,2007
US 2007/0211575 A1
sometimes called elaborate readings, based on the user’s
at 16. A separate display for the date could be provided. If
desired the date display could be omitted if the date is
maintained by an internal microprocessor as noted beloW.
actual date of birth, and, optionally, the time Zone-adjusted
An alarm status LED is at 17, and rotatable knobs are shoWn
time of birth. With such data doWnloaded over the Internet,
at 18, 20 and 22, such as for on/olf, adjustment of volume,
bass/treble adjustment and AM/FM setting for radio broad
365 horoscopes for each year. Or, the user could elect to
purchase and download complete, speci?c horoscopes,
signi?cantly, far less data need be doWnloaded in the digital
storage device of the user’s clock. Whether date of birth
speci?c elaborate readings are selected, or date of birth/time
speci?c elaborate readings, only 365 such messages need be
stored for each year (366 every fourth year).
[0015]
In other embodiments of the invention, the mes
sages can be of a different nature, and can include messages
for alcoholics anonymous, smokers anonymous, gamblers
anonymous, etc., or daily meditations, inspirational mes
sages, trivia, various facts for children, famous quotes,
medical facts, Weight loss information, exercise motiva
tional messages, or biblical passages. Although it is pre
ferred that the radio or clock radio of the invention dispense
messages that are appropriate to the particular day on Which
played, it can be otherWise. For example, the device can play
messages for a tWo-Week period With an educational theme,
With information to be absorbed or memoriZed by a child,
cast sound that is projected from a speaker opening 24 on the
housing. The display of radio bands is shoWn at 26. Rather
than rotational dials, push buttons can be provided if desired,
and such buttons are shoWn at 28. These buttons or dials can
be Wired or programmed for use in any manner as is typical
of such appliances, including clock radios, televisions, auto
motive clocks and radios, etc.
[0022] A number of items must be set in the clock radio
device 10 of the invention. These include the time and the
date, unless an internal microprocessor maintains these
settings using an internal battery, not subject to Whether or
not poWer is connected to the device 10; an alarm time set
feature; a setting for selection of the type of message to be
played, if this selection is provided (see beloW); optionally,
a repeat button to repeat a verbal message Which has just
been played, if desired; “seek” or “tune” buttons for the
progressing each day. Different types of subject matter can
radio, as knoWn on other radios; a button for selection of the
be selectable. In this sense, each message, being of a series
type of alarm to be played at the set time, eg alarm buZZer,
of messages With a particular chronological order, is played
radio, or verbal message, or several or all of the above,
on a day that is appropriate to the particular message.
preferably in succession; and, in the case of horoscopes, the
[0016]
In another aspect the invention encompasses a
clock or clock radio device that stores a multiplicity of
messages Whether time appropriate or not, in a self-con
tained unit, not connected to any netWork, and Wherein a
digital storage medium is readily changeable and updateable
by the user, via a door or slot on the exterior of the device.
The digital data storage can be a CD or more preferably a
?ash memory or memory card type solid state storage
device.
[0017]
It is therefore among the objects of the invention to
provide a time instrument, i.e. a clock or clock radio, Which
contains a storage medium With a large multiplicity of
different messages, to be played on dates that relate in some
Way to the message, as selected by the user. These and other
objects, advantages and features of the invention Will be
apparent from the folloWing description of preferred
embodiments, considered along With the accompanying
draWings.
user’s birth date or simply the user’s Zodiac sign. As in other
such appliances, the LCD display 14 can be used for
multiple functions, and can be used for setting a date of birth
(Which Will be displayed temporarily as the time display is
interrupted, as When a button is held doWn), in the event
horoscope messages are stored. Even in the case Where
“generic” horoscopes are presented, only tWelve of Which
may be stored for each day of the year, the user can be
prompted to enter a birth date and the device 10 Will select
an appropriate Zodiac sign message based on that informa
tion. Also, it should be understood that the clock radio 10,
or a removable digital storage device for the clock 10, can
be sold for the particular Zodiac sign, so that tWelve different
models, preferably of the removable digital storage device,
can be made available. Online doWnloading for speci?c
Zodiac signs or speci?c birth dates or birth dates/times can
greatly reduce the volume of messages to be stored, as
mentioned above, and can provide for updates as needed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shoWs a CD slot 30 for one speci?c embodi
ment of the invention. In this embodiment, a CD containing
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic vieW indicating a
clock radio that has the features of the invention.
device 10 is contained Within the housing 12 in a CD player
(not seen in the draWing). Whenever an alarm set time is
[0019] FIG. 2 is a simple block diagram shoWing a system
according to the invention.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a simpli?ed ?oW chart indicating opera
tion of an embodiment of the invention, in the form a clock
radio.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
[0021] In the draWings, FIG. 1 shoWs a clock radio 10 in
one form Which incorporates the principles of the invention.
The device 1 has a clock body or housing 12 With a time
display 14, preferably a liquid crystal display as shoWn, and
this display in preferred embodiments also displays the date,
all of the multiplicity of messages to be presented by the
reached, and assuming the playing of a “message” has been
selected by the user, the unit 10 plays the appropriate
message from the multiplicity of messages in accordance
With the appropriate sign of the Zodiac and the date. Or, the
unit plays another type of appropriate message as discussed
above, such as “this date in history” or “this date in sports
history”, etc., based only on the current date.
[0024] For a unit 10 With CD data storage, one of the
buttons of the groups 28 and 29 can be a CD eject button,
although removal of the CD is an action taken only rarely or
at great intervals, and it is preferred that a user’s manual
must be consulted to obtain codes for operation of the
buttons 28 and/or 29 to eject the CD to replace it With
another. This is further discussed beloW.
Sep. 13,2007
US 2007/0211575 A1
[0025] As an alternative, and as mentioned above, the
digital storage can be in the form of a solid state memory
such as a ?ash drive or digital camera type solid state
memory card. A slot or door 32 is indicated in FIG. 1 for
such a solid state memory device. In a preferred embodiment
this Would comprise a type of door, similar to that on a
digital camera, Which is opened to release the memory card.
Other con?gurations of receivers and/ or connections can be
used, as desired and appropriate for the particular type of
solid state memory used.
[0026] As mentioned above, in one preferred embodiment
the solid state memory can be re-Written, that is, all data
erased and replaced. Such data can be doWnloaded over the
Internet, With the solid state memory device positioned in a
slot of a user’s computer or of a peripheral device to the
computer. This enables time-appropriate messages such as
horoscopes, Which Will vary betWeen individuals, to be
customiZed to the particular user and thus to require much
less storage. This data re-recording and replacement relies
on the customer-removable digital data storage device,
alloWing the consumer/user to remove the memory card or
device and to doWnload neW data to be recorded on the
storage device using the consumer’s computer. Complete
customization is possible, even alloWing for elaborate and
speci?c horoscopes for an individual user’s birth date
including year and time of day. Only 365 doWnloadable
horoscopes are required for this customiZed storage of
horoscopes, versus l2><365 horoscopes for merely data
generic horoscopes for all persons under the same sign of the
Zodiac.
[0027] Another Way of obtaining this same result for
speci?c horoscopes is for the consumer to purchase the
clock or clock radio, then order the digital data storage
device customiZed to the particular customer’s date, year
and time of birth. Such customiZed collections of horo
scopes can be produced in a computerized system at a
central location, then sent to the user. In the case of such
customiZed collections of horoscopes, the user need not
input his/her birth date, year and/or time of birth, since this
information Will be contained in the removable digital
storage device, but the user’s information can be displayed
on the clock device’s LCD display, read from the digital
storage device, if desired.
[0028] FIG. 2 shoWs a simpli?ed schematic block dia
gram. Controls for the radio are not shoWn in this diagram.
The draWing shoWs a microprocessor 35 at the heart of the
system, contained Within the clock radio body 12. User input
is indicated at 36, represented by the setting buttons 28 and
29 shoWn in FIG. 1. The user inputs include setting of the
current date and time, indicated at 38, entry of the user’ s date
of birth or sign of the Zodiac, indicated at 40, for the case
Where the stored messages are horoscopes or other messages
that are keyed in some Way to the user’s date of birth (unless
custom horoscopes are recorded as discussed above). Alarm
setting is indicated at 42, Which includes setting the time for
the alarm, and optionally, selection of an alarm ring (or
buZZer or other tone) or verbal message, or radio. In one
preferred form tWo or all three of these audible Wake-up
signals or sounds can be selected, and they Will be played in
a particular order, such as radio, ring, message. The radio
can be interrupted for the ring or the message, if desired, as
a feature preset in the unit, such that the radio resumes
playing afterWard. The unit can alloW setting the radio to
start playing earlier, With the message coming at a later set
time, With radio interruption. Note also that multiple user set
times can be provided for, a “dual alarm” feature. Multiple
users (normally tWo) can then set individual alarm/message
times, and different types of messages could be selected for
each, assuming multiple categories of messages are stored,
as discussed beloW.
[0029] User inputs can also include inputs for other opera
tions, such as changing the CD from the slot 30, if a CD is
used as the digital storage for the device, or for releasing a
solid state memory device from the optional slot or door 32,
if that type of memory is used, or for selecting a language
for the message, if multiple languages are provided.
[0030] As noted above, the microprocessor 35 preferably
controls many functions of the clock radio unit 10. It is
possible for the system to use an internal clock for all clock
and date functions, supported by an internal battery that
lasts, for example, about ?ve years or more. In this case the
user need not set the current date and time, but may need to
use an input button to change from “summer time” to
“Winter time”, for daylight savings changes.
[0031] FIG. 2 shoWs that the microprocessor or controller
35 interacts With the digital message storage medium 44.
Whether this storage medium 44 is a ?ash drive or other
solid state memory device, or a CD With a reader, the
controller 35 addresses the storage device 44, as indicated at
46, to select the appropriate message. In many cases, (other
than the case of horoscopes When messages for all tWelve
signs of the Zodiac are stored for each day) this is simply a
matter of addressing the appropriate storage location using
a code that represents the current date. A message is then
retrieved to the controller or processor 35, as indicated at 48.
Assuming this is a digital voice recording, it is taken by the
controller 35 and decoded to produce audible voice. In the
case of a CD, the processor 35 can be part of a reader for the
CD; or the CD can have a dedicated reader as part of the
storage device indicated at 44, With the processor 35 simply
feeding the stream of audio through. From the processor or
controller 35, the audio is fed through an ampli?er 50, Which
can be the same ampli?er serving the radio for broadcast
audio, and the ampli?ed audio plays through a speaker or
speakers 52 of the unit 10.
[0032] As noted above the system can alternatively
include a voice synthesiZer, indicated in dashed lines at 54.
This can enable the messaging storage medium 44 to contain
considerably more messages, as discussed above.
[0033] FIG. 2 shoWs the display 14 as controlled by the
microprocessor or controller 35. What is displayed is shoWn
as time and date, alarm status, and optionally, the Zodiac sign
of the user, as determined from the input of a birth date by
the user or as directly entered by the user. This is the manner
Which the unit is operated in a preferred embodiment.
HoWever, these display functions could be independent of
the microprocessor 35, and could be simple electronic
functions that stem from the settings input by the user. These
functions can be supported by a separate and simple micro
processor, of the type contained in nearly all modern clock
radios (but optionally With the Zodiac sign-indicating func
tion). In that case the controller 35 can receive information
from the display driver or processor controlling the display
as indicated in a dashed information How line 56 in the
draWing.
Sep. 13,2007
US 2007/0211575 A1
[0034]
FIG. 2 also shows a box indicating “play radio”, at
58. This is shown on the control of the processor 35, but this
is not necessarily the case. The processor can be involved if
a button sWitch is operated by the user, this causing the
processor 35 to relay instructions to turn on the radio. This
function can be handled in the Way a typical clock radio is
usually set up, and can be a separate user input (not shoWn)
directly connected to the radio. Note that a remote device for
the clock radio can be provided for controlling these func
tions and others.
[0035] FIG. 3 is a simpli?ed ?oW chart shoWing a routine
in operation of the unit 10. The operation relates to the
setting of time and date by the user, indicated in the box 60,
entry of the user’s birth date at 62, in the event the unit 10
is to play horoscopes (unless the memory device is custom
iZed), and alarm set routine, indicated at blocks 63 and 64.
When the alarm set time is reached, the block 66 indicates
activation of the alarm buZZer and/or the radio, according to
What has been selected by the user. The unit checks to see if
the user has made an input that a message should be played,
as in the query box 67, and if so, the diagram shoWs at 68
that the processor or controller 35 uses the current date
(Whether contained in the processor itself or derived from a
clock or a separate clock processor) to select and retrieve the
appropriate message from data storage. The processor sends
a message to the ampli?er and to the speaker, through Which
the audio voice message is played.
for the customer at a remote location. Similarly, multiple
digital memory storage devices can be included With the
clock device, each one having a different theme or category
of message, or different memory storage devices for differ
ent user languages if desired. These could be interchange
ably inserted into a single slot in the clock or clock radio, as
desired by the user, or the clock device could even include
multiple slots, to be selected from internally in accordance
With the user’s choice of category.
[0039] Many different types of messages can be presented
for the user, including, in addition to those described above,
educational messages for children, With foreign language
instruction, mathematics, science, astronomy, etc., several
different facts or brief stories each day; moral stories or fairy
tales; nursery rhymes or songs; tWelve-step programs for
Alcoholics Anonymous or other “anonymous” or step-type
programs, one played each day; meditation messages; trivia;
nutritional information; or any other subject of interest to the
user for a morning message (or other time of day), or a
plurality of messages each day.
[0040] Messages preferably have a length betWeen about
?fteen seconds and thirty seconds, although this could vary.
An example of a horoscope message might be, for example,
as folloWs:
[0041] “Good morning, Libra, this is October 21. Today
isa
[0036] Optionally, the unit includes a message replay
[0042] good day for you to invest in the stock market,
button, and if so, the system queries at 70 Whether replay has
been requested by the user, Which generally Would occur
[0043]
during the playing of the message or Within a preset time
duration thereafter. If so, the message is played again, as
indicated in the block 72.
to
avoid extended automobile travel, and to drink
plenty
[0044] of liquids. Also, avoid any type of con?ict With
any
[0037] As discussed above, the system can include in the
digital message storage several different types of themes or
categories of messages. This Will require considerably more
message storage capacity, but if this feature is included, the
user can select among, for example, message topics such as
[0045]
be
other person on this day. On this day be sure to
[0046]
Well rested and as alert as possibleiyour signs
are
great moments in history, great events in sports, great
discoveries in science, birthdays of famous people, current
[0047] not good for alertness, logic and social
positions of the sun, moon and/or stars or planets, or
educational messages for children. In that case another
[0048] compatibility.”
setting by the user is required. This selection is indicated in
the dashed-line block 6211 in FIG. 3.
[0049] The above described preferred embodiments are
intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not
to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations to these
[0038] The preferred embodiment above refers primarily
to time-sensitive messages, appropriate to the date When
played, or to the time of day, Week of the year, season, etc.
HoWever, the invention also encompasses the self-contained
device that plays any kind of a message as desired by the
user, Whether time-appropriate or not, With the device
including a consumer-removable and replaceable memory
storage that contains the messages. As discussed above,
these messages can be an appropriate type of high-density
storage device such as a ?ash drive, memory card or other
solid state memory device, or a removable CD. With the
digital memory device being removable by the customer/
user of the clock device, far more versatility is enabled than
in a sealed unit that contains a set of messages not change
able by the user. As described above, horoscopes can be
customiZed to the particular person, as to birth date and even
preferred embodiments Will be apparent to those skilled in
the art and may be made Without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as de?ned in the folloWing
claims.
I claim:
1. A clock having self-contained audio features to present
to a user a time-appropriate message, comprising:
a clock With a time display and a clock body,
a microprocessor contained in the clock body, and a
digital storage medium contained in the clock body and
connected to the microprocessor, storing a multiplicity
of messages, each appropriate for a particular time
period, day or time of day,
time of day of birth, Without requiring large data storage, by
an audible output in the clock body for delivering a verbal
using customiZed doWnloads or customiZed data recording
message, connected to the microprocessor so as to
Sep. 13,2007
US 2007/0211575 A1
verbally announce an audio message selected from the
multiplicity of messages When so directed by the
microprocessor, and
the microprocessor having means for selecting one of the
multiplicity of stored messages for audio presentation
to a user based on time of day, day of Week, or date.
2. A clock according to claim 1, Wherein the clock
comprises a clock radio, With means for setting the clock
radio to present a selected audio message for presentation to
the user at a Wake up time, the message to be appropriate for
the time, day or date for Which the clock radio is set.
3. A clock according to claim 2, Wherein the stored
messages are horoscopes.
4. A clock according to claim 1, Wherein the stored
messages are horoscopes.
5. A clock according to claim 4, further including a data
input on the clock body for a user’s input of data relating to
the user’s date of birth, and Wherein the horoscopes are
speci?c to dates of birth.
6. A clock according to claim 5, Wherein the horoscopes
include, for each day of the year, a different horoscope for
each of the tWelve signs of the Zodiac, With a single
horoscope message for all persons under a particular Zodiac
sign on a particular day.
7. A clock according to claim 5, Wherein the clock is
self-contained and not connected to any netWork.
8. A clock according to claim 1, Wherein the multiplicity
of messages relate to historical events Which happened on
particular dates, and the means for selecting causing a
message to be presented from a day of the year in history
Which is the same as the current day of the year.
9. A clock according to claim 8, Wherein the multiplicity
of messages include a plurality of different categories of
historical events, and the clock body including a user input
for selection of a desired category.
10. A clock according to claim 9, Wherein the different
categories of historical events include sports events.
11. A clock according to claim 9, Wherein the different
categories of historical events include political events.
12. A clock according to claim 9, Wherein the different
categories of historical events include events in science.
13. A clock according to claim 9, Wherein the different
categories of historical events include neWs items.
14. A clock according to claim 9, Wherein the different
categories of historical events stored in the digital storage
medium include a different message for each day of the year
and are appropriate for any year.
15. A clock device having self-contained audio features to
present to a user a message at a user-set time, comprising:
a clock With a time display and a clock body,
a microprocessor contained in the clock body, and a
digital storage medium contained in the clock body and
connected to the microprocessor, storing a multiplicity
of messages,
an audible output in the clock body for delivering a verbal
message, connected to the microprocessor so as to
verbally announce an audio message selected from the
multiplicity of messages When so directed by the
microprocessor, and
the microprocessor having means for selecting one of the
multiplicity of stored messages for audio presentation
to a user based on order of storage or other criteria as
selected by the user,
the clock device and clock body having a receptacle for
the digital storage medium, accessible to the user at the
outside of the clock body such that the digital storage
medium is removable and replaceable by the user.
16. A clock device according to claim 15, Wherein the
clock comprises a clock radio, With means for setting the
clock radio to present an audio message for presentation to
the user at a Wake up time.
17. A clock device according to claim 15, Wherein the
stored messages are horoscopes.
18. A clock device according to claim 15, Wherein the
clock is self-contained and not connected to any netWork.
19. A clock device according to claim 15, Wherein the
digital storage medium includes in said multiplicity of
messages a plurality of different categories or themes of
messages, and the clock device including means for user
selection of a category of message to be presented.
20. A clock device according to claim 19, further includ
ing a user selection input enabling the user to program the
clock device to present different categories of messages on
different days or groups of days.
21. A clock device according to claim 19, Wherein the
clock device includes a plurality of receptacles for digital
storage media.
22. A clock device according to claim 15, Wherein the
digital storage medium comprises a solid state memory
device.
23. A clock device according to claim 15, Wherein the
digital storage medium comprises a re-Writeable solid state
memory device.